Process for honing piston rings



May 25, 1954 Filed ha 31, 1951 J. M. HALDEMAN PROCESS FOR HONING PISTON RINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet l mm o 01 3nventor duh: zhwzazz attorneys May 25, 1954 J. M. HALDEMAN PROCESS FOR HONING PISTON RINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1951- f. A WW inventor (/0fizz Mme I I Gttornegs y 25, 1954 J. M. HALDEMAN 2 6"79,l29

PROCESS FOR HONING PISTON RINGS Filed May 51, 1951 3' Sheets-Sheet 5 Gttornegs 3 threaded and reduced end of the shaft 34. The adjacent surfaces of the hub 39 and the plate 62 are provided with opposed and complementary teeth indicated at M.

It will be apparent that the shaft 34 can be rotated in either direction by the crank arm 4| at least to the extent that the crank arm, M can move between the legs id. However, the shaft 34 can be rotated to any desired extent in either direction by lifting upwardly upon the crank arm l! to compress the spring 38 to such an extent that the teeth a l can be moved with respect to one another.

Slidably disposed within the cylindrical opening formed in the frame 28 is a sleeve 46 which is adapted to extend above the frame 28 and to terminate just below the lower extremity of the arbor H3. The sleeve ie is provided with a plurality of cam slots 4? formed eircumferentially and axially in spaced relation to one another therein and each of these slots is adapted to receive an inwardly projecting end 48 of one of a plurality of studs indicated at 49. The studs 49 are secured by locking studs i in radially disposed openings formed in opposed relation to one another around the periphery of the frame 28. Secured to the sleeve 46 and above the frame 28 is a guard and stop ring indicated at 52 which is adapted to prevent abrasive material from injuring the bearing surface between the sleeve 4% and the member 28 and to limit the downward movement of the sleeve 45 with respect to the member 28. Secured to the sleeve it above the member 52 is a split ring 53 having a handle 54 projecting therefrom and by which the sleeve 46 may be rotated upon the pins 49 for vertically moving the sleeve 46 with respect to the frame 23 and upon the cam lots ll. The ring 53 may be removably secured to the sleeve-46 by a stud indicated at 56.

Disposed within the sleeve 46 and separated therefrom by an annular clearance space indicated at 51, is a cylindrical arbor support or support member indicated at 58. The lower extremity of the support 58 is formed in such a way as to provide spaced and downwardly projecting lugs indicated at 59. The lugs 59 form one of the movable parts of a universal joint 6| bywhich the support 58 is adapted to be secured to the collar 3!. Disposed in diametrically disposed radial openings formed in the lugs 59 is a pair of pins 62 which are adapted to project inwardly within similar diametrically disposed openings formed in a block 63 which serves the purpose of providing the intermediate element for the universal joint 6!. Secured in other diametrically opposed openings formed in the block 63 in normal relation to the openings for receiving the pin s2 is another pair of pins 64 which project outwardly into similar diametrically opposed openings formed in a spaced pair of lugs 65 which are similar to the lugs 59 and which project upwardly from the flanged upper end of the collar 3|.

It will be apparent that the universal joint 6! provides means by which the support 58 can be moved in any direction within the limitation opposed by the width of the clearance space 51 at the upper extremity of the sleeve 46.

The upper extremity of the support 58 is provided with a similar universal joint which is indicated by the numeral 67. The universal joint 6'. is formed by another spaced pair of lugs indicated at 8B. The lugs 58 project from the opposite end of the support 58 in such manner as to receive a block 69 which likewise forms the intermediate element of the universal joint 6?. The block is secured within the lugs 68 by diametrically opposed pins H which project into aligned ope-1b ings formed in the lugs 88 and the block 69. Also projecting into the block 89 in normal relation to the pins 'H is a second pair of pins indicated. at E2. The latter pair of pins project into diametrically opposed openings formed in an opposed pair of lugs 13 projecting downwardly from a supporting collar 74 which forms the outer universally movable member of the universal joint 51. Formed inwardly from the upper end of the collar M is a plurality of axially and circumferentially disposed bayonet slots l6 adapted to receive pins ll which project inwardly from and are secured within radial openings formed in a cylindrical support '58 which comprises the main the pins i! project Within the bayonet slots i6,

'the arbor it then can be rotated for rigidly clamping the arbor to the collar 14 within the bayonet slots 76. v

The outer surface of the support 78 is made in cylindrical or other suitable form for the purpose of projecting within a stack of rings 2! such as that indicated generally at IS. A slight clearance should be provided between the interior surface of the rings in the stack is and the exterior surface of the support 78 so that the rings can be assembled upon the support 18 without being deformed by the configuration of the exterior surface of the support 18. The clearance referred to is indicated by the line 19.

The lower end of the arbor i8 is adapted to be secured against rotational movement by the abrading tool 22 in such manner that the lower extremity of the arbor can move angularly upon the support 58 and the universal joint 6?. Such movement is made possible by slots 84 which are formed in the lower edge of the support '53 for receiving the ends of levers t5 which are slidably secured by pins 8'? across slots fiiiformed radially inwardly around the support 58 in parallel relation to the axis thereof. The opposite ends of the levers as are formed in such a way as to be engageable by an annular cam surface $9 which is formed around the interior surface of the sleeve The levers 86 are adapted to be held out of contact with the notch-es 84 when the-levers are not engaged and moved by the cam surface il 'i by springs d! which project into the notches behind the levers 8G. The springs 2! are secured to the support 58 by screws indicated at 92.

The lower end of the ring stack it may be supported on the support 18 by a ring 8i adapted to be secured on the threaded lower end of the support is. The ring Bl which is adapted to seat against a shoulder 82 formed on the support 78 is provided with an inner flange 33 that extends around the outer surface of the support 18 to engage the lower end of the ring stacl; is. The thickness of the flange 33 is somewhat less than the thickness of the rings 2i so as not to be contacted by the abrading tool 22'. when the rings 2i are being finished.

The lower end of the ring stack i9 is adapted to be secured rigidly or resiliently against the flange st of the ring 83 by a second ring 93 which is also provided with a flange Si l similar to the flange 83 for engaging the upper end of the ring stack 59. The ring 93 is adapted to The structure illustrated by Figure 2 may be employed in reloading the arbor It with a new stack of rings to be finished. The structure so illustrated by Figure 2 comprises a plate I35 having an elongated opening I31 formed therein and in one end of which a cylinder I38 is secured. The cylinder I38 is provided with a piston I39 adapted to actuate a piston rod i ii which projects from one end of the cylinder through an opening I42. The end of the rod I42 beyond the cylinder I38 is rigidly secured intermediate the opposite ends of a clamping member I43 which projects transversely through the opening I37 adjacent the end thereof opposite the cylinder I313, The clamping member I43 is secured to the plate 536 by transversely disposed guides I44 which are secured to the plate I35 by bolts indicated at I 45. Disposed beyond the clamping member I43 and projecting across the plate I36 adjacent the end of the opening I3? is another clamping member I4? having outwardly projecting flanges I48 formed intermediate the ends thereof which are secured to the plate I36 by bolts indicated at I69. The opposing surfaces of the clamping members I 43 and I47 are formed in such manner as to provide complementary semi-cylindrical surfaces I5I and I52. The surfaces I5I and I52, when the clamping members I43 and I4? are closed with respect to one another, form a perfect and complete cylindrical surface comparable to the cylindrical surface of a cylinder in which the piston rings being finished are intended to be employed. The clamping member I 43 may be closed or opened with respect to the clamping member I 4"! by applying fluid pressure to the cylinder I 38 for actuating the piston I39.

In order to reload the arbor 68, it is necessary only to place a stack of piston rings in the clamping members I43 and I4? with the clamping members open sufficiently to receive the rings when the rings are expanded. The arbor If thereafter may be inserted in the rings with the ring 85 removed. After insertion of the arbor, the ring 8I may be tightened on the end of the support I8 by turning the ring with a spanner wrench. The rings in the stack 59 thereafter may be contracted about the support I8 by ac tuating the piston I39 in such manner as to close the jaws I43 and l4'I with respect to one another.

After the exterior surfaces of the rings in the ring stack I9 have been made to conform to the cylindrical interior surface of the jaws or clamping members I43 and I47, the rings in the stack may be rigidly secured with respect to one another to prevent expansion thereof with respect to the support I8 by applying the splined end of the crank previously referred to to the splined interior surface of the collar I21. Thereafter the crank is turned in the proper direction until the clearance I 59 is closed and after which considerable force is applied to the crank for the purpose of positively moving the ring I26 in such manner as to move the levers as to rigidly clamp the ends of the stack I9 between the clamping rings 93 and 8!. When the rings are tightened upon the arbor to a sufiicient extent, the piston I39 is thereupon actuated in such manner as to open the jaws I43 and I4! so that the arbor I3 containing the confined stack of rings I8 can be removed from the apparatus. The arbor I8 is thereafter reapplied to the end of the supporting shaft 58 and the universal joint 61 by inserting the pins TI in the bayonet slots 76 and applying a wrench to the flats I04 to tighten the pins 11 with respect to the bayonet slots IS. The lever 54 is thereupon actuated in such manner as to lower the sleeve 46 within the frame 28 so that the cam surface 89 will be made to actuate the levers 85 to engage the slots 34. The control panel 21 is thereupon actuated in such manner as to bring the abrading tool 22 down upon the arbor I8 into the position indicated in dotand-dash lines in Figure 1.

The initial or preliminary part of the finishing operation is thereafter performed by again actuating the control panel 21 in such manner as to cause reciprocation and rotation of the abrading tool 22 with respect tothe mandrel I8 and the stack of rings I9. It has been found to be preferable to actuate the abrading tool throughout a relatively long stroke and at a relatively small number of strokes per minute and at a relatively large number of revolutions per minute throughout the preliminary finishing operation upon the stack of rings I5. During such preliminary finishing operation, the rings in the stack IE! will be confined upon the arbor I8 in such manner that the resilient forces Within the rings, caused by the contraction of the rings upon the arbor I8, will be ineffective to expand the rings against the interior surface of the abrading tool 22.

When the preliminary finishing operation is completed, the control panel 2! may be actuated in such manner as to stop the rotation and reciprocation of the abrading tool 22. The rings in the stack i9 thereafter may be released with respect to one another to permit the expansion of the rings Within the interior surface of the abrading tool 22 by actuating the lever ll in such manner as to open the clearance H9 between the lugs II? and the collar 98. When the clearance iiii is opened to the desi ed extent, the rings in the stack I 9 thereafter will be resiliently held together by the force of the spring Hi9 which is exerted upon the rings 53 and iii by operation of the levers Gt. The rings thereupon will be made to engage the interior surface of the abrading tool 22 by reason of the resilient force exerted by the tendency of the rings to expand and the rings will be frictionally held together within the stack I9 by the resilient force exerted by the spring I69. It has been found to be satisfactory thereafter to finish the rings by actuating the control panel 2? in such manner as again to cause relative rotation and reciprocation between the arbor I8 and the abrading tool 22. It has also been found to be desirable during such final finishing operation to reciprocate and rotate the tool 22 with respect to the arbor I 8 at a relatively large number of strokes per minute, throughout a relatively short stroke and at a relatively large number of revolutions per minute.

After such final finishing operation has been completed, the control panel 2? may be actuated in such manner as to remove the honing tool 22 so that the arbor It may be removed and a new stack of rings applied thereto as previously described.

I claim:

l. A method of finishing piston rings which comprises contracting a split resilient ring blank until the exterior surface thereof is of smaller cylindrical form, rigidly securing said ring blank against radial movement out of said contracted form, projecting said ring within an abrading tool adapted to engage a plurality of areas around the exterior surface of said ring, relatively rotating said abrading tool and said ring so secured against radial movement while axially moving said abradinsto la dis d-r n r ith respect to oneanothe 1* throl hout lurality ;of greciprocatingmopera tions, releasing=-;said; ring silientl-y expanded in said tooly' I 2. A method *of finishing pistonrings which comprises-.pontractin a stack of split resilient rings to formal cylindrical exterior surface-there? on, clam-ping said rings rigidlygin said contracted formqto: prevent radial expansion of said firings; 1;.

continuously abrading'thc iexterior surfaces of:

said-rings in .said contractedgform to providey'a roughly finished cylindricalisurface thereon, ;re- 1 leasing; said irings to I permit the; resilient radialzr expansion of each of said-rings, holding'said rings in frictionalengagement-with one another-insaid resiliently expanded for and thereafter -rotativelyg'abradingthe-exter 1; surfaces of saidrings:

while'said rings are soiheld in frictional engage-- mentwith-one another.-

3. :A method -of-= finishing: piston rings j which comprises contracting; a stack-'- of: splitcresilientr rings upon the exterior surface of an arbor, aperplying axially disposed forces to the end surfaces of said ringsz to zclampk'said-ringsrigidly together upon said arbor;,;;a-brading the exterior surfaces of said rings a; form a roughly finished cylindrical ,7

surfaoe,-releasing said rings to-permit radial'expansion [of said rings into resilient engagement with-'fthefl abrading'" surface; holding said .Lrings whilef so released-in" frictional engagement with oneanotlier;'-*andrelatively'rctating said "a-brad-i ing tool and said rings-and arbor while said ringsare so held for finally finishing the exterior surfaces of said rings.

4. A method of finishing piston rings which comprises rigidly securing a stack of split resilient rings with respect to one another and with the exterior surfaces thereof forming approximately a continuous cylindrical surface, roughly finishing said stack of rings with an abrading tool engaging a plurality of areas on each of said rings around the periphery of said cylindrical surface by relatively reciprocating said rings and said abrading tool while so secured and throughout a plurality of continuous reciprocating movement, releasing said rings within said abrading tool for resilient radial expansion therein, holding said rings together with a force limited enough to permit further expansion of said rings within said abrading tool but great enough to cause driving frictional engagement between the surfaces of said rings, and relatively rotating said abrading tool and said rings while said rings are so held.

5. A method of finishing piston rings which comprises rigidly securing a stack of split resilient rings with respect to one another with the exterior surfaces thereof forming a continuous cylindrical surface,roughly finishing said stack of rings with an abrading tool engaging a plurality of areas on each of said rings around the periphery of said cylindrical surface by relatively rotating said rings and said abrading tool while said rings are so secured in said stack,releasing said rings within said abrading tool for resilient radial expansion therein, holding said rings together in said stack with sumcient force to permit further expansion of said rings within said abrading tool and to cause driving frictional engagement between the surfaces of said rings, and thereafter continuing the relative rotation of said abrad-ing tool-and i saidzrings while said rings are,

so held-a 6. -A -method r finishing piston rings which 51' comprises rigidlysecuringa stack of split resilient rings; with respect-to one another withthe exteriorsurfaces thereof forminefipplioigimatcly a continuous;cy1indricali-surface; roughlyv finishing f t stacl-:-. of ringsiwithi an abrading tool engagg inela plurality of areasaon each of saidfrings around the periphery of said cylindrical surface by relatively rotating and reciprccating said rings. tool while saidq-rings are so i and said abrading v ecured insaid stack, releasing said rings within ahradingl tcolfor resilient radial expansion thereinhold -ing'sai drin gs I t with *ufficient i'croe to permit further expansion of said; ri s iwithin. said; abrading tool and tofi cause :drivingfirictional engagement bet-Aileen the 1; surfaces of said and relatively rotating said abrading @tool and said rings: while said rings are so resiliently held tQoL-andhilesaid rings arefree to expandin ing sai-d stacKof-ringsWith an alorading. tool engaging a plurality of areas l of each of saidring's v around f the (periphery pf said cylindrical I surfaceby. relatively rotating and reciprocating said 5 rings-and said abrading toorwhile Esaid rings are v so heldein saidstack,;releasing .said rings within said abrading tool for; radial expansion therein holding said rings together in'said stack with sufficient force to permit further expansion of said rings within said abrading tool and to cause driving frictional engagement between the surfaces of said rings, and thereafter relatively rotating and reciprocating said abrading tool and said rings while applying said force to hold said rings together and while applying the radial force in said rings tending to expand said rings into abrading contact within said abrading tool.

8. A methodv of finishing piston rings which comprises contracting a stack of split resilient rings until the exterior surfaces thereof form an exposed and rigid and continuous cylindrical surface, abrading said rigid and continuous cylindrical surface while said rings are so contracted, releasing said rings for expansion against the rigid interior surface of a cylindrical abrading tool, and thereafter relatively rotating said rings and said cylindrical abrading tool surface.

9. A method of finishing piston rings which comprises contracting a stack of split resilient piston rings to form a continuous cylindrical exterior surface, rigidly securing said rings in said stack with said exterior surfaces exposed and in said contracted form, abrading said exterior surfaces of said rings while so contracted and secured, externally confining said exterior surfaces of said rings to limit the radial ex together in said stack together within 'said abradine I finishing 7' piston rings which"? 1'. comprises rigidly securing a stack: of. split re sil ient'irings witlrv respect to (one. another with the exteriorsurf aces thereof forming :approxirnately a continuous cylindrical:- surface, roughly finishon said rings, securing said rings in said contracted relation with said exterior surface exposed to retain said cylindrical exterior surface thereon, abrading the exterior surface of said rings While said rings are so contracted and secured, enclosing the exterior surface of said rings within a cylindrically formed tool to limit the expansion of said rings, releasing said rings to resiliently engage the internal surface of said tool, and rotatably abrading the exterior surfaces of said rings while resiliently expanded within said tool.

11. A method of finishing piston rings which comprises radially contracting a stack of split piston rings against the resilient forces therein to provide a continuous cylindrical surface on the exterior of said rings, rigidly securing said rings in said contracted relation, abrading the exterior surface of said rings, confining the exterior surface of said rings within a cylindrical tool to limit radial expansion thereof by said resilient forces, releasing said rings to permit said rings resiliently to engage the interior surface of said tool, applying opposed forces to the ends of said stack to provide frictional driving forces between the rings in said stack while said rings are so released and abrading the exterior surfaces of said rings while so released in said'tool and in opposition to said frictional force between said rings.

12. A method of finishing piston rings which comprises radially contracting a stack of piston rings against the resilient forces therein to provide a continuous cylindrical surface on the exterior of said rings, rigidly securing said rings in said contracted relation, abrading the exterior surface of said rings, confining the exterior surface of said rings within a cylindrical tool to limit radial expansion thereof by said resilient forces, releasing said rings to permit said rings resiliently to engage the interior surface of said tool, applying opposed forces to the ends of said stack while said rings are so resiliently released to provide frictional driving forces between the rings in said stack, and rotatively abrading said rings while so released in said tool and in opposition to said frictional forces between said rings.

13. A method of finishing piston rings which comprises contracting a stack of split resilient rings to form a continuous cylindrical exterior surface, rigidly securing said rings in said stack with said exterior surface exposed and in said contracted form, abrading said exterior surfaces of said rings while so contracted and secured, externally confining said exterior surfaces of said rings to limit the radial expansion thereof, releasing said rings to permit such limited radial expansion thereof, and abrading the exterior surfaces of said rings while so expanded and limited and by intersecting abrading movements directed obliquely with respect to the axis of said stack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,494,913 Hughes May 20, 1924 1,555,853 Higgins Oct. 6, 1925 2,195,056 Wallace Mar. 26, 1940 2,318,837 Connor May 11, 1943 2,422,418 Hutto June 17, 1947 

